"I used to wish upon stars, but I grew up. I mean, what seventeen year old in their right mind would believe in rubbish like wishing stars? You know the answer: none. Of course, my little sister would still make a wish and try to convince me. Not that I'd listen or care.

Yesterday night was one of those nights. I was going to watch the Perseid meteor shower on my own, -my sister had a sleepover and my parents were out- when I received a message. How I wished my parents hadn't given her a cellphone so soon.

"Don't forget to make a wish!"

Ugh. I could practically hear her obnoxious voice ringing in my ears as I read the text. She was trying this, again? I thought Amber would have been watching Disney movies with What's-her-name (Kate? Catherine? Cathy? Katelyn?) by now. Or gossiping about 'Eva having taken a sweet behind the teacher's back' and that kind of crap. Apparently not.

'Wait a minute,' I thought, 'if I say I will, maybe she'll believe it and leave me alone. That would be sweet.' I immeadiately started typing my response. Autocorrect kept bugging me, but after a few minutes I'd sent my reply:

"If you insist...okay."

It sounded like I had given in, right? Hopefully, she would buy it and I'd be golden. The text I got in return, made my hopes sink.

"Your lying, you meanie!!! Clara and me don't believe you!!!"

Well then. Busted by a nine year old, whose grammar makes people cringe. (It truly was a miracle her first message was flawless) How bad of an actor am I? Well, at least I learnt the friend's name. Clara. Somehow, it reminded me of cows. But that wasn't important. I could just ignore them, they wouldn't be able to do a thing. I turned off my cellphone and walked to the window. It should begin any minute now.

Half an hour later and still, nothing happened. Those meteors were really taking their time. A loud sound pulled me from my thoughts. It was the ear-piercing noise of the house phone. One equipped with a dial that had to be turned, and whose sound you couldn't turn off, sadly enough. I picked it up.

"Hello?"
"Hi Jenn," My mother sounded unusually tired. This wasn't good.
"Your sister has been calling me non-stop," Seriously. Amber, really? Sneaky little...of course mom would get tired of her soon and make me do as the brat wants.
"No. I'm not going to do it." I said flatly, my hand squeezing the phone tightly.
"Please? I know it's not true, but it wouldn't hurt either." I was about to refuse, when, "Or I will give her this number." Shit. With a sigh, I relented.
"Okay mom. Tell her I'll do it."
"Thank you, sweetie. Don't go to bed too late, okay?"
"Yes, mom." Not that I really meant that. I mean, those meteors don't come often, so I'm going to stay up late for them.

I ran back to the window, opening it quickly. The warm summer breeze played with my hair as I watched the meteor shower. It was truly a beautiful display. Streaks appeared in the sky as numerous comets passed by, painting it as easily as an empty canvas.
"Time to make a wish." I whispered. It still irritated me, but what choice did I have? I was a terrible liar, still am, so that wouldn't work.

I randomly picked one of them. I closed my eyes, making a wish.

When I opened my eyes, the comets were still flashing by and nothing seemed to have changed. Just as expected. I was about to conclude wishing upon a star was just silly supersticion, when I noticed something strange. Not only was one of the stars glowing much brighter than the rest, but its light seemed to be getting more intense as well. It was coming closer! Shouldn't that thing have burned up in the atmosphere or something? I watched the spectacle with wide eyes. After a few minutes, the light became too strong, I had to close my eyes.

The deep rumble I heard confirmed my suspicions even more. It had to be a meteorite. Ever so slowly, I opened my eyes. The bright light had died down and everything was eerily silent. My breath hitched and my hair stood on end when I saw smoke coming from the forest. The comet had landed practically in the backyard! I had to see it. I grabbed the keys from the table and almost fell over my own feet in my hurry to get to the door. I quickly opened, then closed it behind me and ran towards the trees. I didn't think at all, beyond 'That's so awesome, I need to see it!'

Despite the darkness it didn't take me long to reach the newly created clearing. Trees were smoking, in the ground was a large crater. In the center was something that didn't look like a meteor at all. It was a silver color, smooth, and somehow, barely damaged by having been a fireball. A...spaceship? I inched closer, until I was standing at the edge of the crater. I stood mesmerised, as a hatch opened.

A strange creature emerged. Its legs were long and thin, like stilts, ending in points. It had two pairs of arms. Those too, were unnaturally thin and too long. Its mouth had lacked lips and was round, with the teeth pointing inward. It seemed to lack all facial features except a mouth, until it opened six white eyes simultaneously. It made an unearthly screeching sound when it realized my presence.

I did what any terrified human would do: I ran. I dashed through the forest and the backyard, back to the house. 'Inside I'll be safe. Inside I can lock the door, call the police. I'll be fine, I'll be fine', my mind tried to convince itself. Miraculously, I made it. I took the keys from my pocket to unlock the door. It took me terribly long to open it, because of my shaking hands. Finally, it clicked open.

I rushed to get inside and shut the door behind me. I expected to feel something knock into the door as I locked it. Nothing did. Where did that thing go?! I closed all the windows in the house. The curtains as well. My next thought was to get something to defend myself. We didn't have a gun, unlike many in the USA. I decided on a kitchen knife, it was the best I had.

I went to the living room. I called the police, but they thought it was a joke. I was on my own. Every once in a while I looked out of the window, to see if that...thing was out there. I could see its eyes. Orbs of pure white. Of pure hatred. It was after me. I was sure of it. Sometime that night I fell asleep, because all I remember is waking up, with my parents bowed over me. 'I thought they wouldn't be home until the 15th?' I faintly wondered as I sat upright.

"Are you okay," Dad asked me, "why did you sleep on the couch?" I explained to them. Their expressions said enough. Incredulity was written on their faces. I realized it when I looked at them more closely.
"You aren't my parents..."
"What are you talking about?" My not-mother replied.
"MY parents would believe me!" I shouted, jumping up. The creature must have done something to them. These two frauds weren't my parents!
"Dear, please put that knife down, you might hurt someone," Her voice was pleading, but I didn't fall for it.

I got rid of those fakes."

"I see." The young woman says. She hasn't interrupted me, not once. Her nametag says Dr. R. White. I like her. She believes me. I think.

"You do believe me, right doctor?"

"Of course."

I pretend not to see her scribble down 'patient nr. 56 suffers from delusions, paranoia and is very dangerous'.